Top 10 bold predictions for the 2025 WSOP Main Event
The WSOP Main Event starts on Wednesday, 2 July, with four Day 1 flights available for those looking to pony up a $10,000 buy-in for a chance at poker history. As always, the Main Event will attract the eyes of the entire poker world, as thousands of players take their shot at the game’s most prestigious trophy.
With just a couple of days left before the festivities begin, we take a look at some of the key things to expect in this year’s edition of the WSOP Main Event.
10. Big name pro at the final table
It’s been a while since a household name like Daniel Negreanu or Phil Ivey made the WSOP Main Event final table, and this could be the year.
Daniel Negreanu
We have waited for years to see one of our favorite players make this final table appearance, and 2025 could be the year it finally happens.
9. Celebrities in attendance
The WSOP Main Event has evolved from a single-table tournament reserved for poker’s elite players to a massive open event that attracts over 10,000 participants each year.
In recent years, we have seen an increased number of celebrities from the worlds of sports, show business, and other spheres of life take their shot in the Main Event.
Argentinian battle rapper Alejandro Lococo famously made the 2021 Main Event final table and won over a million dollars, while the likes of Gerard Pique, Neymar, and numerous other celebrities were seen in the fields over the years.
In 2025, we expect the number of recognizable faces to grow even further, with famous athletes, comedians, actors, and business people all vying for poker glory.
8. Electric final table atmosphere
Tournament rails can get wild, but none come close to the one at the Main Event, especially if there are a few players from countries like Brazil or the U.K. still alive on the final days of action.
The 2025 Main Event is expected to attract thousands of players from around the world, creating an interesting mix of players for the final table.
Once those final nine come back to play down to a winner, the atmosphere in the room will be as electric as ever, with everyone waiting to see who the next world champion will be.
This time around, electronic devices running poker software will not be allowed at or near the final table, which means everyone in attendance will be able to focus even more on the action and support their favorite players.
7. Big TV moments
Unlike other WSOP events, which only get final table coverage at PokerGO, the Main Event will be covered in full, starting from Day 1.
With so many days of action and so many players in the field, we are guaranteed to get some great poker moments recorded for posterity.
From Day 1 coolers and bad beats to those heart-breaking moments on Day 5 or 6, the Main Event regularly creates some of the most memorable situations in all of poker.
Think back to last year’s Main Event and Kristen Foxen’s busted hand, and you will know exactly the kind of moments we are talking about.
6. Fewer international players
While the WSOP is an international event, the festival is typically dominated by American players, which is to be expected given its location.
Yet, we have grown quite accustomed to seeing many players from all over the world play at the WSOP, and especially in the Main Event.
This year could be a little different, as there is some tension about entering the USA as a foreign citizen. While foreigners are still welcome in the U.S., those traveling on a tourist visa may experience some discomfort upon entering the country.
The horror stories of people getting held up at the airports and even detained for no apparent reason may give some players pause in traveling to this year’s Main Event.
Yet, if the overall WSOP numbers are anything to go by, there will still be a strong international showing in the biggest poker tournament of the year.
5. The softest $10k tournament
Year after year, the WSOP Main Event proves to be the best value tournament around for all capable poker players.
The $10,000 price tag suggests a high level of play, and that would be true for any other $10k in the world, but not the Main Event.
Unlike other tournaments in this buy-in range, where players undergo extensive poker training in preparation, the Main Event tends to attract thousands of recreational players and satellite winners who aren’t particularly skilled at poker.
To make things even better for the pros, amateurs play the event with a fear of losing their chips, which makes them much easier to play against.
All of this combined means the 2025 WSOP Main Event will be the softest $10k tournament of the year, making it a prime target for any professional poker player out there.
4. Lots of satellite winners
Last year, GGPoker’s parent company acquired the WSOP in full, further extending the partnership between the two brands.
With the world’s biggest online poker site now taking more of an interest in the performance of the WSOP than ever before, we can expect more online satellite winners in the Main Event than ever before.
Expect plenty of young and eager players coming from the online streets to join this year’s Main Event via online qualifiers at GGPoker and other sites.
3. A record-breaking field
In 2024, the WSOP Main Event broke its own attendance record for the second year in a row, once again bringing in over 10,000 unique entrants.
A total of 10,112 players paid the $10k entry fee one way or the other to compete, which is a truly astounding number for a freezeout event at these stakes.
This time around, WSOP will once again be looking to shatter that record, and it has a real chance, as the game’s popularity remains on the uptick.
From satellite winners to professional poker players and crypto enthusiasts, to businessmen from around the world, the WSOP Main Event is the one tournament that tends to draw a crowd.
Expect the event to receive over 10,000 entries again and potentially break the attendance record, provided the WSOP gets a little luck going its way.
ICYMI: Day 1D of the 2024 WSOP Main Event set a new record for players in a starting flight with an incredible 5,014 runners joining the field! ??#wsop2024 pic.twitter.com/5YGDdK9Jr0
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 7, 2024
2. A grand Phil Hellmuth entrance
A couple of months ago, the poker world was shocked at the news that Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth would not be playing this year’s Main Event.
Phil quoted exceptionally long days and his age as reasons he would not be playing, as he tried to push the WSOP to adjust the structure for poker’s biggest event.
Many doubted Phil’s honesty as soon as he posted his video on X, and just weeks later, they turned out to be right, as Hellmuth recanted and allowed his fans to “convince” him to play in the Main Event.
Now that the Poker Brat is back in the mix, we can expect him to show up for the Main with one of his trademark entrances, and this one could be the biggest yet.
It remains to be seen what historic figure of movie hero Hellmuth decides to impersonate this time around, but it’s almost certain he will be looking to get some attention as he enters the biggest event of the WSOP.
1. Shorter registration lines
One of the big innovations at this year’s WSOP is the implementation of the WSOP+ app. This is the first time the app is being used at the Las Vegas festival, and so far it’s been an absolute hit with the players.
The app allows players to register for events without even going to the cage, if they so choose, assigns seats to players without human interaction, and more.
With the WSOP+ app in place, the Main Event registration lines are expected to become significantly shorter and more manageable, as many players will opt to register directly through the app.
Of course, the Main Event still draws in plenty of complete recreational players who will need some help, but you can expect shorter lines and less chaos on the floor during the Day 1 flights.